Who gives a shit: Americana

I don't mean Lincoln, Lincoln, Lincoln or Lincoln. I'm talking a sometimes insidious and vapid (although often stated/expressed as deep, enduring and meaningful) in things with historical (perceived or lent) significance, of or possessing some quality of "heritage" and/or "Americana" expressed variously through style (and 2), photography, decor and ethos.

On the surface, this is a problem of authentic personage vs. persona akin to the one discussed below re: Vampy, but that assumes a less than honest adoption of the aesthetic of Americana. To be sure, there are issues of the affluent adopting the trappings of the working class, but that's nothing new. And yeah, right now the Americana aesthetic is hip and trendy: "Affected? Absolutely. Still, how we dress says a lot about who we want to be, and that ache for authenticity—or, at least, the aura of authenticity—is revealing." via Newsweek.

I can't speak for the flannel clad hipsters or the ironic mustache, but personally I like history. I like when things are worn in, used or have some other indication that a human being has touched something, lived in it or with it. Before it fell apart, my first real wallet (not a Hawaiian velcro nightmare) was my grandfathers. I loved that every time I paid for something I thought of him, that I could feel the wallet in my pocket when I walked. The same feeling, albeit a step or two removed, exists when I use anything that evokes craft, or having been made by a person, be it clothes, furniture or anything else.

As a lot of people who know me will tell you, authenticity and personal integrity are two things I prize. Those values translate directly to the things I buy, especially in terms of clothes. I appreciate craftsmanship and a sense of honesty in production-I like that I can trace the production chain (person, methods and materials) of some of the clothes I wear to the root. I enjoy the sense of history and ownership their makers have over the things they produce. I feel the same about food and coffee, about liquor and beer.

Yeah, part of this is a reaction to the cookie-cutter stores like Express and the Gap and mass production stores who produce the same look or product over and over again ad nauseum. It's hard to stand out when you're wearing the same thing as 20 other people. On a deeper level though, how you dress says a lot about who you are. You can argue with me on whether or not it should (I think so), but the fact of the matter is that you can't make a more immediate impression of who you are and the things you find important than through your clothes.

Plus, you get what you pay for. For the most part, the clothes I buy from big chains don't last me longer than a year, tops. When you buy on price, and not quality, you're bound to be disappointed eventually. That holds true for any commodity-photography, food, journalism to name a few.

Yeah, money is a big deal for a lot of people-myself included. People accuse me of being an elitist because I talk about and think about things like $250 jeans, or a $40 meal, or a $12 six-pack. I definitely don't have the money to make decisions like that all the time. Sometimes I sound like an asshole, I admit it. But, like I said above, craft and integrity are things I value, and things I'm willing to save up a bit for and spend a little more on. I'm not paying $1600 for Dolce & Gabbana here, just cause someone told me its the hottest shit. Try it. Pick something important to you and save up a bit.

Sorry it got a bit preachy. Check out this sweet video. I'm in a time-lapse mood lately.


Photo copyright Drew Kelly